Cincinnati nurse healing hearts across the globe

A Cincinnati nurse is healing hearts all over the world. Erin Brenner has gone to 47 countries with the International Children’s Heart Foundation, and with about 12 trips a year, it keeps her busy, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Sometimes they travel, in India, days just to get to where we're evaluating patients. And they wait in the clinic. They sleep in the hallways for days,” Brenner said.

Brenner aids surgeons and updates medical professionals on the latest information for treating children with heart disease and defects. She has also started her own medical supply re-purposing effort to provide much needed supplies to developing areas.

Brenner showed WLWT News 5 a half-used pack of sutures that could mean the difference between life and death in many of the places she’s served.

“Just one suture was used and, this can be sterilized. I can take the package and perform one or two surgeries.” Brenner said.